Artwork
Souhaits (Aspirations)
Souhaits (Aspirations) is a print by Pierre Roche. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Pierre Roche’s print *Souhaits (Aspirations)* was produced in 1906 employing the gypsograph method, a technique that combines elements of drawing and printing. The work exemplifies Roche’s experimental approach to printmaking during the early twentieth century.
Context
Born Pierre Henry Ferdinand Massignon in Paris, Roche initially pursued studies in medicine and chemistry before shifting to the visual arts. He trained at the Académie Julian under Alfred Roll, exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1884 and 1889, and later expanded his practice to sculpture, ceramics, and medal work.
Technique & Style
The gypsograph process used for *Souhaits* involves applying a gypsum-based medium to a surface, then transferring the image through a printing press. This method allowed Roche to achieve delicate tonal variations and a tactile quality that distinguishes the print from conventional lithographs or etchings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Roche (Paris, 2 August 1855 – Paris, 18 January 1922), pseudonym of Pierre Henry Ferdinand Massignon, was a French sculptor, painter, ceramist and medallist.
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